Legal Assistant (Office Automation)

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Legal Assistant (Office Automation) serves in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, directly and independently supporting Assistant United States Attorneys by providing legal assistance and office support. Responsibilities increase in scope and complexity as training and experience progress. The position is a career ladder opportunity with a full performance level of GS-7; promotion from a lower grade is discretionary and subject to requirements, satisfactory performance, higher-level work, and available funding. The role requires typing at least 40 words per minute based on a five-minute sample, with no more than three errors. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, and appointment is contingent on pre-employment checks and a favorable background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or nationality.
Register for Selective Service, if applicable.
Meet the qualifications for the applicable grade level by the announcement closing date.
GS-5: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4, four years of education above high school, or an acceptable combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes reviewing documents with legal implications for accuracy and completeness; typing and formatting correspondence and forms; maintaining file systems; and retrieving information from files or general reference sources.
GS-6: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 in Federal service, including reviewing legal documents for completeness, retrieving and assembling information for hearing or trial use, researching legal sources, and using automated software to produce legal-related materials.
GS-7: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-6 in Federal service, including trial support, preparation of hearing or trial documents, citation and statutory-reference verification, discovery and trial preparation, and use of software and databases for research and courtroom materials.
Type at least 40 words per minute on a five-minute sample with three or fewer errors; a typing test may be required.
Academic degrees and coursework used to meet education requirements must be from an appropriately accredited institution. Foreign education must be shown to be comparable to U.S. accredited education, with supporting documentation and English translations as needed.
Complete satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, including fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing; continued employment is subject to a favorable background investigation.
Complete a one-year probationary period if required.

Nice To Haves

Recruitment incentives may be authorized if the position is determined difficult to fill, based on the selected candidate’s skills and availability of funds.
A relocation incentive may be considered based on qualifications.

Responsibilities

Review incoming material and independently determine the need to assemble and prepare legal documents, including complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, exhibits, affidavits, and subpoenas.
Proofread and cite-check legal briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents.
Manage paper and electronic documents and evidence, including PDF and image files, audio and video files, bank records, and forensic reports.
Track filing, hearing, and trial dates, and schedule conferences and interviews.
Maintain attorney calendars, schedule appointments, and provide reminders concerning commitments and court appearances.
Arrange travel by preparing itineraries and securing transportation and hotel reservations.
At applicable grade levels, review legal documents for completeness, retrieve and assemble information for hearings and trials, research legal sources, and produce legal reports and documents using automated software.
At applicable grade levels, support trial preparation by preparing legal documents, verifying citations and statutory references, assisting with discovery, compiling trial notebooks and jury instructions, and preparing witness and exhibit lists and courtroom presentations.